Agenda and minutes

          The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and provided some feedback from the Cheshire Police and Crime Panel meeting which he attended along with Councillor Martha Lloyd-Jones on 3 February 2023. 

          The Panel received a report regarding the Police and Crime Commissioner’s proposed Precept (the Commissioner’s element of Council Tax) for 2023/24.  A letter was sent back to the Commissioner to request consideration to lowering the threshold for Halton residents.   

          The Minutes of the meeting held on 8 November 2022 were taken as read and signed as a correct record.

          An update was provided an update on “Operation Treacle” which was Cheshire Police’s Halloween and Bonfire initiative.  The Police recorded a 1% increase in incidents between 30 October 2022 – 6 November 2022.  One of the key issues was off road bikes and of those reported, 55% of incidents occurred in Halton.      Further information would be shared in due course. 

At the last meeting it was requested that future Board meetings would be held at alternative venues in Runcorn and Widnes and it was confirmed that the next meeting would be held in Widnes. 

          It was reported that no questions had been received.

          Due to apologies received from Cheshire Constabulary, this item was deferred to a future meeting. 

The Board received a report on the refreshed Police and Crime Plan for Cheshire 2021-2024 which was launched on 20 January 2023.  It was noted that although no one from Cheshire Constabulary was able to attend the meeting they had expressed an interest in attending a future meeting.

          The Police and Crime Commissioner committed to engage and listen to residents and refresh the Police and Crime Plan to ensure it reflected the priorities of Cheshire’s communities.  The six priorities for policing and crime in Cheshire remained the same in the refreshed plan and were outlined:

·       Prevent and tackle crime;

·       Make Cheshire’s roads safer;

·       Deliver justice for victims of crime;

·       Protect vulnerable and at risk people;

·       Improve public confidence in policing; and

·       Modernise our Police Service.

The Community Safety Team continued to work in partnership with the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office on the delivery of work in Halton.

          RESOLVED: That the report be noted. 

          The Board received a report from the Operational Director, Community and Green Spaces which provided an update on progress of the new Community Safety and Protection Division.  It was noted that Nicola Goodwin had been appointed as the Divisional Manager and the priority was to articulate the Division’s service needs and framework for delivery. 

The report highlighted some updates on the Community Safety and Protection Division which included:

·       Domestic Abuse Service – this service had transferred to the Council as of 11 January 2023;

·       Emergency Planning – PROTECT duty to be implemented in Spring 2023.  This was otherwise known as “Martyn’s Law” and was in response to the Manchester Arena incident;

·       Anti-Social Behaviour – ongoing partnership work with local policing units to raise awareness of the Anti-Social Behaviour Victim and Witness Support Service, the Multi Agency Meeting and the Tasking and
Co-ordination Meeting and the Anti-Social Behaviour Pathway; and

·       Enforcement – this was a new service in the Division and during last quarter (October-December), there had been 79 incidents of waste related offences and environmental crime which included fly-tipping and dog fouling.

Members raised concerns about enforcement and Halton’s lack of zero tolerance against issues such as dog fouling, anti-social behaviour, parking etc and provided examples of such problems in areas across the Borough.  It was the view of the Members that perpetrators should be issued with fines instead of warning letters.

          Examples were given of joint working initiatives between the Council and the Police and how they had worked well.  Comments were taken on board and consideration would be given to more joint working opportunities. 

          With regards to parking issues, Members commented that PCSO’s needed to be vigilant, in particular to “hot spots” and busy built up areas.  It was also suggested that delivery companies e.g. Amazon, supermarkets, pharmacies and take-aways should issued with letters, to remind them not to park on grass verges. 

          As the new division evolved, the Board would continue to receive further update reports in due course.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

          The Board considered a report regarding the Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Service and the activities being supported across the Borough. The report was presented by the Domestic Abuse Manager.  

          In January 2023, the Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Service transferred to the Council and the three elements to the service were:

·       Independent Domestic Violence Advocates (IDVA’s).  The main purpose of this service was to address the safety of victims at high risk of harm from intimate partners, ex-partners or family members to secure their safety and the safety of their children.

·       Domestic Abuse Accommodation Service.  In January 2023, this service was awarded to SHAP, a Charity that had provided housing and supported young and vulnerable people across Merseyside for over 40 years.  The purpose was to reduce the impact of domestic abuse on individuals, families and the community and to enable people of all ages affected by domestic abuse to be safer to cope and to recover. 

·       Listening Ear Domestic Abuse Services for Children, Young People and Families.  This service responded to children and young people who had been impacted by domestic abuse and would contribute to a co-ordinated approach.  It provided a “DiAmond”, a therapeutic service for children, young people and families where domestic abuse had been an issue within 12 months of a referral.  This was an enhanced service offer in Halton which included therapeutic interventions and counselling for children and young people affected.  Eligibility was for children and young people who resided in Halton and for those aged up to 25 years if they had additional needs.  The referral pathway came via MARAC, Integrated Contact and Referral Team screening and domestic abuse supported accommodation requests.

Arising from discussions, it was noted that:

·       A Partnership event had been arranged to take place on 5 April 2023 to review the Halton Domestic Abuse Partnership Strategy and formalise its action plan.  Members were invited to attend and further details would be circulated in due course.

·       There needed to be a better understanding of how technology could help victims of abuse.

·       Members raised concerns that there needed to be more support in place to help parents who were victims of abuse from their child. 

·       There had been a marked deterioration of behaviour and discipline in schools since the Pandemic.  The Chair said he would be interested to see a research paper on this issue. 

          RESOLVED: That the report be noted.